Avett Brothers - I Should've Spent the Day with My Family Lyrics

I woke up very early
Like I tend to do most days
Gathered up my clothes, my watch
And pocket knife
It would be almost an hour
Before the sun would show its face
And I tried to be quiet
So as not to wake my wife

Turning on my phone
Was the first mistake I made
My heart sunk when I read the first headline
There had been another shooting
And this time not so far away
And a child who lost his life
Looked an awful lot like mine

I sat there in the dark
For I don't know how long
Without the first idea of what to do
I walked into the kitchen
And turned the coffee maker on
And stood there feeling hopeless
And staring at the moon

And when the house got lively
I was working double time
Scrambling eggs and trying not to cry
Jennifer was getting Isaac dressed and packed for school
I was wondering when God left
And why he didn't say goodbye

I should have spent the day with my family
Instead I tried and failed to work all day long
Lord, I should have spent the day with my family
On days like this, they alone, make me want to carry on

Throughout the day I kept
Hearing all the details
Though I didn't check in much
Or watch the news
Some tragedies you know
They have no explanation
And the word "Everything" don't cover what you lose

So I spent the whole day pacing
Back and forth all by my lonesome
Questioning the point
And trying to write a song
And it sure is hard to focus
On anything at all
And you can't get something right
When everything feels wrong

I should have spent the day with my family
Instead I tried and failed to work all day long
I should have spent the day with my family
On days like this, they alone, make me want to carry on

By sundown I was worn out
No closer to understanding
The evil things that happen everyday
My wife and I shared a beer
And talked about the future
Agreeing on the fact that we would have to find a way
Though sometime I don't know how
This world continues turning
What has happened will never be undone
But tomorrow I think
I'll just try to keep the day wide open
And as much as they will have me
Be with people that I love